Valve.



A. L. BRIDGHAM.

VALVE.

APPLICATION .HLED JAN. 31. I917.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

m x w I E W E QM, A M m M 7 2 1 ans variant opiate.

ARTHUR L. BRIDGHAM, OFJBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. SHERBURNE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE.

Application filed Jannary 31,-1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. BRIDGI-IAM, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The present invention relates to a valve of the automatic shut-off type for controlling the passage of fluid under pressure, and

one which is essentially adapted to close automatically in case a break occurs in the connections beyond the valve through which the fluid isbeing conveyed.

Among the essential objects of my invention is to provide a valve of the above char acter which can be conveniently applied to any fixture for controlling the issue of fluid therefrom under pressure; to provide a valve the body of which is attachable to a fixture containing fluid under pressure and which furnishes the outlet from said fixture, the passage of which is controlled by the valve; to provide a valve the body of which is at tachable as aforesaid to a fixture containing fluid under pressure and itself provides a passage for the fluid under pressure, and also a fixture with which other connections may be made for conveyance of the fluid pressure beyond the valve; to provide a valve which can be manually controlled; to provide a valve in which there is no escape of fluid pressure during either its open or closed position or during the automatic closure of the valve or manual opening thereof, and to provide also a valve of Tentively simple construction, easily assembled. the interiorparts of which are accessible and otherwise commercially useful.

The valve embodying my invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawings in which I have shown it as sociated with the fountain of a steam locomotive or that part which is arranged in or adjacent the cab and to which the steam is directed from the boiler for purposes of distribution, those parts only being shown which are necessary to a proper understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view partly in side eleva-- Specification of Letters Patent.

' the valve.

Patented Oct. 2?), 19318.

Serial No..145,617.

tion and partly in longitudinal section showing the valve and adjoining parts, and

Fig. 2- is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the body of the valve into and through which the fluid under pressure is directed to pass from a fixture 2 to which thebody is attached. The body comprises a central chambered portion or part- 3 and other chambered partsi, 5 and 6, respectively, preferably integrally connected to form .a unitary structure. The part st'of the body is that by which it is attached to the fixture containing the fluid under pressure-and which is to be led out of the fixture. The opening or passage through the part t furnishes the outlet passage from the fixture, or the passage throu h the part i may be otherwise distinguished as furnishing the inlet into the chamber of the valve body from the fixture. The part t of the valve body is preferably made attachable to the fixture by making it cylindrical in formand externally threaded, permitting of the part being turned into the fixture and the union made secure by a nut 8 arranged upon the part t and bearing against the fixture. The part v5 of the body of the valve is that by which attachment may be made to the body ofsuch connection or pipe 9 as serves for the 'distributionof fluid passingthrough the valve body. Thepassage through the part 5 may be distinguished as the outlet from the chamber of the valve body. F or the purpose of securing connection between the part 5 and the attaching member 9, the part 5 is preferably made cylindrical in form and externally threaded by which the member 9 may be screwed to it. Theportion 6 of the valve body comprises a chambered extension in alinement with the part 4, the interior of which affords space for containing valvular parts, as will later be referred to.

10 represents the main valve and 11 the stem of the valve. The valve is located to control the passage extending through the part l of the valve body, or, in other words. to control the passage out of the fixture which. contains the fluid under pressure and which forms the inlet into the chamber of For this purpose the valve is preferably arranged as shown beyond the lows: Arranged within the body of the valve and forming preferably integral connection therewith is a web 15. This web is preferably arranged at about the inner end of the chamber or passage leading into the extension 6 of the valve body and diametrically crosses the opening inclosed by this part. The web has formed centrally with n it, on the rear side thereof and extending in a line with the valve stem, an opening or socket 16 within which slides an auxiliary valve 17 to which the valve stem is coupled so that the parts may be movable in unison asthe main valve operates between an open and closed position. The connection between the main and auxiliary valves is obtainedby means of a crossbar 18 arranged upon the valve stem 11, and from the respective ends of which project arms 19 which extend by and on either side of the web 15 and are secured to trunnions 20 on the auxiliary valve (see Fig. 2).

The auxiliary valve 17 closes inwardly against a seat 22 at the inner end of the socket 16 within which it is contained. The connection between the main and auxiliary valves permits of the main valve assuming an open position when the auxiliary valve is resting upon its seat, the length of the connection determining the amount of such opening. When the main valve is closed the auxiliary valve will be moved back within its socket but not entirely out of the same inasmuch as the socket is of such length that the auxiliary valve will be contained within it at all times. The inner end or face of the auxiliary valve is open to the atmosphere at all times, there being provided in the web 15, beyond the seat 22 of the auxiliary valve, a chambered recess 23 in constant communication with the atmosphere through a by-pass or passage 24.

For efiecting the manual control of the main valve there is provided an auxiliary stem 25 having on its outer end a wheel 26 by which it may be turned. The auxiliary stem 25 is threaded to turn within a bonnet 27 attached to the outer end of the part 6 of the valve casing, attachment being preferably secured by an annular extension 28 from the bonnet, threaded to fit within the end of the casing. The inner end of the stem 25 is provided with an enlargement or head 29. This head loosely connects with the auxiliary valve and thence through the connections with the main valve, by an extension, and preferably a cylindrical extension, 30 from the outer end of the auxiliary valve and within which the head is contained to be loosely movable. The extension 30 is provided with an inturned end 31 which is inturned sufliciently for the head to have engagement with it when the head is retracted. As said above, the head 29 is movable within the extension 30 and the length of this extension is such that the main valve, coupled as it is to the auxiliary valve, will have a free movement between its open and closed positions independently of the auxiliary stem 25 and head 29 carried by it.

The operation of the device is as follows: The manual control of the main valve is effected .by the turning inwardly or outwardly of the auxiliary stem 25. lVhen turned inwardly the head :29 carried by this stem will be moved to bear against the outer face of the auxiliary valve, when further movement of the stem will move the auxiliary and main valves forward until the auxiliary valve engages its seat The main valve will then have been moved to an open position, this position being defined by the engagement of the auxiliary valve with its seat as aforesaid. The manual closing of the main valve is effected simply by a reverse turning of the auxiliary stem 25. As the stem is turned outwardly its head 22 will draw back within the extension 30 of the auxiliary valve until it engages the inturned end 31 thereof, when a further reverse turning of the auxiliary stem will operate to draw back the auxiliary valve and main valve with it until the main valve closes against its valve seat,

The automatic closure of the main valve is effected as follows: It will be assumed that the valve has been moved to an open position. At such time the fluid under pressure will be admitted to. pass into and through the chamber of the valve easing or body. The main and auxiliary valves will then be subject to the fluid pressure, the main valve being located practically within the chamber of the fixture to which the valvular structure is secured and where it will be subjected to the fluid pressure therein, and the auxiliary valve being located within the extension 6 of the body into which the fluid pressure is being admitted and where it will be subjected to such pressure. The auxil iary valve, however, in the forward or end portion facing the main valve will be subject to atmospheric pressure enterin Owing to the fact that the auxiliar valve is subject in part to atmospheric pressure, the resulting effect is that the fluid pressure will operate to maintain the main valve in a normal open position. This open position of the main valve as above described is defined by the engagement of the auxiliary through. the passage 24 in the web or fixture 15.'

have no effect upon the main valve and it will, be maintained by the pressure in its overbalanced open position as above described. The disposition of the mainvalve V is such, however, that when the flow of the fluid under pressure into and through the chamber of the valvular structure becomes unduly accelerated, as, for example, by a break in the connections beyond the body of the valve or at the point of the valve, then less fluid pressure will be exerted for holding the main valve in an open positiointhe fluid pressure tending to close the valve then predominating, and the the will be instantly and automatically closed. lVhile it is the fluid pressure upon the valve which tends to close it at such time, yet the moving force exerted by the fluid under pressure during the accelerated flow thereof may asin closing the valve.

To obtain the automatic closure it is of course necessary that the valve be accurately set and, as above described, the setting may be obtained by turning the auxiliary stem ofthe valvular structure inwardly until the head 29 carried by this stem will have been moved to contact with the auxiliary valve,

after which the turning is continued until the valve is moved to a full open position. After the main valve has been thus moved it will then become susceptible to the fluid and atmospheric pressures above referred to and remain in an open position. To then enable the main valve to close automatically, should occasion arise, the auxiliary stem 25 should be turned out until its head 29 lies approximately at the outer end of the extension to the auxiliary valve, substantially as shown in the drawing, or to a position where the head will not prevent full closure of the main valve through the engagement of the auxiliary valve with the head as the main valve moves to a closed position.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages, a main valve arranged whereby it may prevent the issue of fluid under pressure through said inlet passage into the chamber of said body when said main valve is closed and whereby also said main valve may be subjected on opposite sides thereof to the fluid pressure when the main valve is open, an auxiliary valvular member located within the chamber of'said body forward of said main valve and subjected to fluid pressure within said chamber, means connecting said auxiliary member to said main valve, and means for subjecting said auxiliary valvular member to atmospheric pressure in a part thereof facing said main valve where by said main valve may be over-balanced and maintained by the fluid pressure in an open position and moved by the fluid pressure inwardly to a closed position for closing said inlet passage upon undue drop in pressure within the chamber of said body.

2. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages, a main valve arranged whereby it may prevent the issue of fluid under pressure through said inlet passage into the chamber of said body when said main valve is closed and whereby also said main valve may be subjected on opposite sides thereof to the fluid pressure when the main valve is open, an auxiliary valvular member located within the chamber of said body forward of said main valve and subjected to fluid pressure within said chamber, means connecting said auxiliary member to said main valve, and means whereby said auxiliary valvular member may be subjected by an opening to the atmosphere to atmospheric pressure in a part thereof facing said main valve and whereby also fluid pressure may be excluded from said opening to the atmosphere at all times irrespective of the position of said main valve and said auxiliary valvular member.

3. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages, a main valve arranged whereby it may prevent the issue of fluid under pres sure through said inlet passage into the chamber of said body when said main valve is closed and whereby also said main valve may be subjected'on' opposite sides thereof to the fluid pressure when the main valve is open, an auxiliary valvular member located within the, chamber Of said body forward of said main valve and subjected to fluid pressure within said chamber, means connecting said auxiliary member to said main valve, means whereby said auxiliary valvular member may be subjected to atmospheric pressure in a part thereof facing said main valve, and means loosely connected with said auxiliary valvular member whereby said main valve may be manually controlled from outside said chambered body.

4. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages, an inwardly-closing main valve arranged whereby it may prevent the issue of fluid under pressure through said inlet passage into the chamber of said body when said main valve is closed and whereby also said main valve may be subjected on opposite sides thereof to the fluid pressure when the main valve is open, an auxiliary valve located in the chamber of said body forward of said main valve and subjected to the pressure of the fluid entering said chamber, means connecting said auxiliary and main valves, and means providing a socket for said auxiliary valve within which it is movable with an opening leading out of said socket and communicating with the atmosphere whereby a part of said valve facing said main valve may be subjected at all times to atmospheric pressure.

5. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages into and through which a fluid under pressure is directed to pass, an inwardly-closing main valve for controlling said inlet passage, said valve being arranged whereby it may be subject to the fluid pressure, a member located within the chamber of said body having in it an opening in communication with the atmosphere, an auxiliary valve borne by said member and movable thereon, said auxiliary valve cooperating with said member whereby it may be subject in part to the fluid pressure admitted into the chamber of said body and in a part facing said main valve to atmospheric pressure admitted through the opening in said member, and means connecting said valves to move in unison.

' 6. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages into and through which a fluid under pressure is directed to pass, an inwardly-closing main valve for controlling said inlet passage, an auxiliary valve located within the chamber of said body, assisting in the control of said main valve, means for connecting said valves to move in unison, means whereby both said to and moved by the fluid pressure to a closed position for closing said inlet-passage upon undue' drop in pressure within the chamber of said body, and means whereby said main valve may be opened.

7. In a valvular device of the type specified, a chambered body having inlet and outlet passages into and through which a fluid under pressure is directed to pass, an inwardly-closing main valve for controlling said inlet passage, an auxiliary valve located within the chamber of said body, assisting in the control of said main valve, means for connecting said valves to move in unison, a fixture inside the chamber of said body having within it an opening to the atmosphere and a further socket-forming opening within which said auxiliary valve is contained and movable said auxiliary valve and fixture coiiperating with one another whereby said auxiliary valve may be subject 011 the forward side thereof facing said main valve to the atmospheric pressure admitted through said fixture and on the rear side thereof to the fluid pressure admitted into the chamber of said body when said main valve is open, and whereby also said auxiliary valve may close at all times communication between the chamber of said body and the opening in the fixture to the atmosphere, and means providing for the opening of said main valve when occupying a closed position.

ARTHUR L BRIDGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

